INSERTING SCIONS. 113 



The stock is then split in the center, by means of a 

 large knife with a broad back, ten or twelve inches 

 long, beveled on both sides. The knife is struck 

 with a wooden mallet, splitting the stock two or 

 three inches. A wedge is then placed in the center 

 of the stock until the scions are prepared and pressed 

 in place, when the wedge is withdrawn. The stock 

 immediately closes on the scions and keeps the grafts 

 firmly in place. 



CLEFT GRAFTING. When inserting the scions, 

 their inner bark should correspond to that of the 

 stock. Then cover the top of the stock and both 

 sides, with grafting wax. In two weeks the buds of 

 the scions will begin to swell, and will frequently 

 make five or six feet of wood the first year. During 

 the summer, in consequence of cutting off a portion 

 of the top of the tree, a number of young shoots 

 will start from the old stock. These should be re- 

 moved ; if allowed to remain, they will materially 

 injure the growth of the scions. The scions should 

 be cut back the following spring, so that they will 

 throw out side shoots, near the union, and form a 

 stocky and symmetrical head. 



WHIP GRAFTING. This method, although not 

 often made use of in the orchard, is very common 

 with nurserymen for grafting seedling stocks. These 

 are lifted in the fall and heeled in. During the 



